Sunday Morning at Home

Yesterday I think I must have overworked myself b/c all last night and well into the morning I have felt horrible! My back is killing me and my stomach hurts. I feel like I'm in school all over again, staying home and doing nothing! It's weird not being at church. I told Jared this morning that this was the last Sunday that would be just the two of us. Next week, as crazy as it is to think of, we'll be with a baby...either in the hospital or at home. One way or another, things are about to change for our little family. Yesterday we had our friends, The Whites, over for dinner. They helped us get some work finished on the house and Bridgette hung shelves up in Sam's room. Its really started to come together, and get really small really quick! When I think about this past weekend I can't help but feel blessed my all the great friends we have made since we've moved to Jasper. God has certainly filled our lives with amazing, Godly people. I don't know what I would do without my group of close friends. There is no doubt in my mind that if I ever needed prayer, encouragement, advice, whatever...that my best friends would be there. There are a lot of people who don't have that in their lives. They have friends but when times of trouble come, they don't necessarily offer the best advice and show themselves as wise friends. I'm so thankful to have wise people in m life. Not just my friends, but my family too. I joke about my family sometimes, b/c we aren't the most...."normal". People think b/c I'm a pastor's wife that my family must be perfect, but we're far from it...and I think it's safe to say that we would all admit that. But I wouldn't trade anyone in my family for the world. We've been going through the book "The Principle of the Path" by Andy Stanley in Sunday School and it has been great. In his book, Andy challenges us, the reader, to stop and think about the decisions you make and decide what path is that going to lead to. Be honest with yourself. Are you choosing happy now or happy later? This principle was established long ago in my house growing up. I tease my dad on one of his favorite sayings: "It's all about supply and demand,Liz." , but there are extremely strong, core values that my dad taught me growing up that I will never forget. Happy now vs. happy later was one of them. Don't ever spend what you don't have. Save for a rainy day. Although at the time, it didn't make sense and seemed redundant, I'm so thankful for the wisdom my parents instilled in me. So much wisdom seems common. I can look at an outside situation and see the "didn't you see that coming?" Not everyone's parents taught them what mine did. As I think about what I've been learning through the book and with Sam coming soon my heart in heavy with all the things I want to teach Sam. I want to teach him to be wise concerning the things of this world and the things eternal. I don't ever want him to get wrapped up in all the "frill" that this world seems to offer. Those things don't last. A prayer that I read and have since been praying for our family goes like this: Lord, help us to see trouble coming. Give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to actually do it. I encourage you to pray that same prayer.



I'm still thinking about my parents...I have two sets. :) One thing I learned from each and every one of them is this. Time doesn't matter. Whether you're putting your head in their lap for a head rub and just talking, time doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what else you have to do or how your day went. If you give your children your time, that in turn gives them a sense of value. No matter what has gone on in my life...good or bad...I have never, EVER lost my sense of worth to my parents. No doubt, I'm sure I wasn't the easiest kid to be around at times. And I know I could be a brat too! I know, it's hard to believe, but I never once doubted their love for me. They didn't always have to say it, though they did and still do, it was what they did with the time spent with me that mattered most to me. I pray that I would do the same with Sam. That our time together would not be wasted, but that we would make the most out of every second. What an amazing privelege it is to be a parent. To think that you are who you are b/c of your parents, and that your kids will become who they are b/c of what you do....wow. I need a moment to take that all in.



Overall, I think I've had a good Sunday. Not typical, but nonetheless I think the Lord and I have had a good time visiting with each other. FYI: Another book I'm reading, even though I'm a little behind on the times, is The Shack. Now I'm not much of a reader you know, but it is a really great book. I highly recommend it to everyone...even if you're not a reader. My husband would be so proud, I just referred back to two books I'm reading at the same time! He is the reader of the family, but I'm getting there. Anyway, I guess that's all for now. I'll be sure and post an update after the doctor's appointment on Monday. That should give us some answers as to next weeks timeline of events. Until then, have a fabulous Sunday and be sure and make the most of the time you spend with your family and friends.



~Elizabeth